Jhatka
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jhatka (from Hindi jhatkā झटका, Punjabi: ਝਟਕਾ literally, killed with a jerk, or hacked) meat, is meat from an animal which has been killed by a single strike of a sword or axe to sever the head,[1]as opposed to Jewish kosher or Islamic halal in which the animal is killed by ritually slicing the throat.Snatan Shastar Vidya defines Jhatka as "Chatka' - Corrupted from Sanskrit word 'Jhatakarakh'. A sudden shake, a jerk; cutting of the head of an animal at a stroke with a sword, the meat of such an animal which alone is lawful for Sikhs or Rajputs"[2]. This kills the animal immediately because the spinal cord is severed, and the blood flow to the brain is stopped almost instantly, causing brain death within seconds. Therefore the method is adopted as being the less painful to the animal than other methods.
Contents |
[edit] Hindus and Jhatka
Historically and currently, those Hindus who eat meat prescribe jhatka meat [3]. This is the compulsory method of slaughter if animal sacrifices are made to some Hindu deities. Nowadays, due to considerable Vaishnavite influence in Hinduism, as well as the heavy influence of western values and mores among modern Hindus, animal sacrifice is not often practiced within most Hindu sects in cosmopolitan urban areas.
[edit] Jhatka Meat and Sikhs
Those Sikhs who eat meat are recommended to eat Jhatka meat, [4] as they do not believe any ritual gives meat a spiritual virtue (ennobles the flesh).[5]. Another reason Sikhs do not eat halal meat is due to determining to change to it being a prerequisite for conversion to Islam. However, there is little availability of jhakta meat in, for instance, the United Kingdom, so families may find themselves eating other types of meat.[6]
[edit] References
- ^ http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=8G8gUr9fIKc
- ^ http://www.shastarvidiya.org/chatka.jsp
- ^ http://www.indiacurry.com/faqterms/whatisjhatka.htm
- ^ www.sikhnetwork.org/viewfile.php?fid=9 10 Misconception Regarding Sikhs
- ^ Singh, I. J., Sikhs and Sikhism ISBN 8173040583
- ^ [1] Sikh Women in England
[edit] See also
- Goat Meat The Truth
- Jhatka at Hazoor Sahib
- Video Demonstrating Jhatka
- Vegetarianism in Sikhism
- Dhabiha Muslim method of ritual slaughter.
- Shechita Jewish method of ritual slaughter.
- Legal aspects of ritual slaughter
 |
This meat-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
